Posted 10 September 2007 @ 09:33
JAKARTA, 10 September 2007 - About 60 so-called bekantan monkey (nasalis larvatus) were found living in a group in an undamaged forest. Researchers from the South Kalimantan devision of the Natural Resources Conservation Agency (BKSDA), found them. The finding of these endangered bekantan monkey just last month was unexpected as the albino mammal has been threatened with extinction according to Siswoyo, chairman of the BKSDA there.
"The finding of around 60 bekantan monkeys which like to live in companionship in a solitary place is very encouraging," he said. While the island of Kaget was turned into a reserve for the nasalis larvatus monkey, it only holds a small number of those mammals. The population on the island decreased due to mining activities near the island, Siswoyo told.
To maintain the endangered population, the BKSDA in South Kalimantan has asked the local government to ban any damaging activity on the island of Kaget. "BKSDA has asked South Kalimantan governor Rudy Ariffin to help protect Kaget island from any mining activities which can harm the population of nasalis larvatus," he said.
The so-called bekantan monkey (nasalis larvatus) on a file image. © Alessio Marrucci according to GNU.
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